In the early 1950s Queensland Railways introduced its first air-conditioned trains for use in regional Queensland. The "Lander" name had been adopted in 1952, with the western services being commissioned as the Westlander, Midlander, and Inlander. The Brisbane-Cairns service became the Sunlander, replacing the 1935 Sunshine Express.

The first air-conditioned train introduced was the Inlander, on the Townsville-Mount Isa line (Great Northern Railway), entering service in February 1953. The Sunlander was introduced with great fanfare in June 1953, Midlander in May 1954 and the Westlander August 1954. All the trains were built by Commonwealth-Engineering (Com-eng) and were in service by 1956.

The popularity of the new services meant that here were only enough carriages for four Sunlanders, offering five services per week. Ipswich Workshops constructed new carriages in May 1961 to complete a sixth train. Other services were introduced over time such as "The Capricornian", (overnight service between Rockhampton and Brisbane), and in the 1980s "The Queenslander", to offer a first class service between Brisbane and Cairns.